BOSTON — Franklin Morales excelled in his opening audition as a starting pitcher. Now, he'll look to be effective in the follow-up.
When he starts against the Twins on Sunday, it'll signal his fourth different role change of the season. Morales has switched duties nearly as often as he switches socks, going from relieving to starting to relieving to starting once again.
"It's two different mentalities," Morales said. "As a starter, you have to know the right situations to use your best pitches, but as a reliever, you just have to get outs and use whatever you have. In relief, you have to keep it as simple as possible."
Due to that constant shuffling, there's a possibility that Morales may finish the season in the Red Sox rotation. But that outcome will likely hinge on his performance on Sunday, his first start since July 13 against the Rays.
In five starts — from June to July — Morales starred in the starting role, notching a 2-1 record with a 3.42 ERA and 31 strikeouts. Despite the success, pitching coach Bob McClure isn't committing to him as a starter for the rest of the year — at the moment.
"Not yet," McClure said. "[The spot start] is something we need at this time. Basically, I talked to him a little bit about having done that myself — spot starting and going back to the pen. Never really put a whole lot on that."
"I think if you set your mind to it and your body is in shape enough to do it, [you can]. I think not everyone can do it. But there are some guys that can. It's not a bad role, it's just what it is. It's not demeaning, but really it's how highly you think of anyone. I considered it kind of an honor that they would start me and relieve me."
During the hiatus away from starting, Morales has continued to throw several pitches to improve his longevity. Even so, McClure said the southpaw would be chained to a pitch limit in Sunday's start.
"He's not stretched out all the way to 100-110 [pitches] like we had him up to," McClure said. "I’m sure that 75-90 — somewhere in that general area — I don't think is a problem. He keeps his arm in really good shape. Usually guys who throw as much as him can throw longer like Alfredo [Aceves]. He throws a lot, but it enables him to pitch a lot."
On the heels of Boston's recent slide, every pitch counts.
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